Integrated psychopaths: when psychopathy is not synonymous with criminality

When we think of a psychopath, we are usually struck by the idea of ​​a cold, calculating serial killer, as the movies show us.

But the reality is very different. Although there have obviously been and are people with psychopathy who commit various crimes, others do not. In this article we will explore the issue of integrated psychopaths, a question that can be very surprising.

• Related article: "Antisocial behavior: what it is, risk factors and associated disorders"

What are embedded psychopaths?

In order to talk about integrated psychopaths, we first need to pause for a moment to properly define the term psychopath itself. Psychopathy is a psychopathology framed within the antisocial personality disorder.

However, although there are some common traits in some of these people, it would be inappropriate to make a general categorization for all individuals with psychopathic personality, since there are important variations, as is the case of integrated psychopaths, which we will see more go ahead. What's more,

like most psychopathologies, this can occur in different degrees, so there will be many nuances.

The most frequent clinical characteristics in this type of individuals are, in the first place, a behavior antisocial, which can be more intense during childhood and even translate into behaviors such as pyromania or animal abuse. Enuresis can also appear at ages that do not correspond. However, these behaviors can be corrected and not be present during adulthood.

Another characteristic feature would be a degree of empathy as well as regret that is quite low and even non-existent, in some cases. Although it should be pointed out that many psychopaths, integrated or not, have their own codes of conduct, and it is by breaching these and not the general laws, when they may experience discomfort.

The third of the main traits is that of an evident disinhibition in his character, and even a certain narcissism and a pleasure in being the center of attention. In addition, they often tend to be pleasant in the deal, as they have great intelligence in that sense.

They can also be insensitive in their interpersonal relationships, not be sincere, lie or carry out behaviors that could be classified as extravagant. In that case, some elements such as alcohol could enhance their effect. Let us remember at all times that these characteristics are generalities and therefore do not have to be fulfilled in all cases, nor do it with the same intensity.

Although we will focus on integrated psychopaths later, it is convenient to continue to know the general characteristics of this psychopathology. Another factor to take into account is that these people do not usually experience delusions, so their thinking is rational.

They can have promiscuous sex, be irresponsible in certain behaviors, and even impulsive. They could also be manipulative and do anything to achieve their goals. They will often need stimulation to avoid boredom.

These are some of the behaviors observed in the population with psychopathic personality. As we see, they are qualities that, separately, could be observed in many types of person, but that together, mark a profile that we could qualify as psychopathic.

However, this does not necessarily have to be linked to criminality (although, indeed, they have a greater probability of breaking the rules), much less murder.

• You may be interested in: "Psychopathy: what happens in the psychopath's mind?"

Characteristics of integrated psychopaths

We have already been able to see some of the general features that we usually find in people with psychopathy. One of them is that of antisocial behavior, which can translate into criminal behavior. This is where so-called embedded psychopaths come into play.

This people, Although they fit the diagnosis of psychopathic personality, they do not have to engage in criminal behavior. On the contrary, they lead normal lives and, although some of their traits differ from what we might observe in the general population, This does not mean a great difficulty for them to cope with everyday situations, start a family, work in different jobs, etc.

Sometimes we can also find the term subclinical psychopath to refer to integrated psychopaths. Therefore, the term would refer to individuals who have psychopathic traits but not for that reason. have become criminals, but lead apparently normal lives and therefore socially accepted.

Obviously, the very characteristics that we have already discussed at the beginning of this article can make these people in unusual, eccentric or different in their behavior, but not in a negative way, necessarily. In fact, their narcissism and pleasure in being flattered, makes them charming on many occasions and even seductive.

But that charm will be merely superficial, since its objective is not to project a good image, but to receive a series of compliments in return. And it is that for the integrated psychopaths, and for the non-integrated as well, the other individuals are usually simply the means they need to achieve an end.

This implies that their affection for others is not necessarily what the general population feels. Your emotionality may function in a different way and therefore your feelings towards other people, even the closest ones, should not be like those experienced by the rest of individuals.

Your personal interactions and relationships

These qualities make integrated psychopaths into people who can be very skilled at the time to manage other individuals and even take advantage of their weaknesses to control them. They can dominate and even psychologically abuse the people around them.

Some will try to establish relationships of an apparent mutual dependence, only that in reality it will be the other person who enters this spiral of dependence, since integrated psychopaths will not feel this type of need. On the contrary, they will even feel a certain pleasure in making the other person feel vulnerable and even worthless.

In the field of romantic relationships, many of these subjects will have no problem committing infidelities. Some go to the point of doing it in a very obvious way, knowing that this can cause harm to their partner. If they also have a high economic situation, they will have no problem supporting the other part, but not out of mere altruism, but because of the situation of vulnerability that it generates in the other person.

We observe a tendency in integrated psychopaths to try to exercise a power relationship over others, reaching even denigration or psychological abuse, as we have already seen. This is another example of the frequent lack of empathy that these individuals have, which is why feelings or emotions of others will not prevent them from trying to fulfill their objectives.

Testimony of an integrated psychopath

But not all embedded psychopaths behave this way, and some even don't even know they are or find out later in life. Let's see a concrete example. This is the case of James Fallon. This is a very particular example, since we are talking about a worldwide eminence in the field of neurology.

It was precisely he who was developing his work as a neurologist when he discovered that he himself was one of the integrated psychopaths. He went through a series of brain MRI images of different killers with psychopathy and other individuals, including his own. Indeed, the image of his own brain was consistent with that of dangerous criminals.

But James Fallon is not a criminal, far from it. Although he does have traits that many people do not have, since, indeed, he belongs to the group of integrated psychopaths. However, in her family there was a history of people, presumably with psychopathy, who had committed such heinous acts as murder.

Fallon himself refers that his emotionality is different, and that he is aware that what he feels towards his wife and his children is not exactly the same as they feel towards him. He also acknowledges that he knows exactly how to act to be liked by other people, but that does not mean that he appreciates them.

He also highlights a tremendous feeling of revenge when another person causes him some annoyance. In his opinion, he belongs to the integrated psychopaths because he was born with a predisposition to it, but the key to not becoming a criminal, according to him, lies in childhood.

This doctor assures that he was having a happy childhood and not suffering, for example, abuse or mistreatment, which kept him in that rank of secondary psychopath. In his words, being born with psychopathy is like being a loaded gun, but what pulls the trigger is having lived a tough childhood and, luckily, that was not the case for him.

Bibliographic references:

• Knobbe, M., Kraft, A. (2014). James Fallon: "Evil is within me!" XL Weekly.
• Pozueco Romero, J.M. (2010). Integrated psychopaths: psychological profile and personality. Eos. Juridic psychology.
• Pozueco Romero, J.M., Moreno Manso, J.M., Blázquez Alonso, M., García-Baamonde Sánchez, M.E. (2013). Integrated / subclinical psychopaths in couple relationships: profile, psychological abuse and risk factors. Roles of the Psychologist.